Premier League to be decided in London

ARSENAL and Chelsea appear certain to have a significant influence on the destination of the Premier League title after being drawn to face Manchester United on consecutive weekends near the season’s end.

United will visit Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on 27 April before hosting Chelsea at Old Trafford on 4 May and on either weekend the title could potentially be sealed by a result in either direction.

May is somewhat kinder for Tottenham, however, who will play Southampton, Stoke and Sunderland, while Fulham conclude Michael Laudrup’s first season as Swansea manager when they travel to the Liberty Stadium in Wales on the last day of the season, 19 May. Premier League newcomers West Ham will of course hope to reach the crucial 40-point mark deemed necessary to avoid relegation by then but, if not, have a challenging fixture at home to Reading, who are similarly expected to struggle.

Fellow relegation candidates QPR also have a difficult May and could potentially suffer as a consequence.

Before visiting Liverpool on the 19th, they have home fixtures against Arsenal and Newcastle, when the fight for survival could ultimately be lost and won.